Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Artur Bento

Artur Bento, co-first author of An ionic liquid extraction that preserves the molecular structure of cutin shown by nuclear magnetic resonance

Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher at Silva Pereira’s Lab in Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica – NOVA University of Lisbon (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal

Education: Doctorate Degree in Chemical Engineering by University of Lisbon (Técnico Lisboa), and a Degree in Applied Chemistry – Organic Chemistry by NOVA University of Lisbon (FCT NOVA)

Non-scientific interest: sports, music, travelling

Brief bio: After my graduation I started my academic career, between 2005 and 2008, establishing my expertise in the field of Organic Chemistry. During my PhD, I obtained expertise in synthesis and characterisation of polyolefins and mesoporous materials. During my first post-doctoral position (2014 – 2016), I had the opportunity to continue developing my research profile in catalysis and in synthesis/characterisation of metal oxide nanoparticles.

In 2017 I joined, as a post-doc the Silva Pereira’s Lab at ITQB NOVA in the scope of a project financed by the European Commission, FET-OPEN, entitled “FLIPT – Flow Induced Phase Transitions, a new low energy paradigm for polymer processing”. The aim of the project was understood and reverse engineers natural aquamelts in order to establish a completely new bioinspired paradigm for polymer processing. In specific, to characterise the thermal, chemical and mechanical properties of plant polyesters (cutin/suberin) and the possibility to process them like an aquamelt. As a trained materials chemist, I find the scientific landscape on plant polymer extremely interesting and challenging.